While I was at Capclave last weekend, I went to the “Ask an Editor” panel, and asked a question – “can you sell a story that starts slowly, you know, like ‘in a hole in the ground lived a hobbit…” (Whe moderator took them all, and went through the list). He answered mine last: he said, “yes”.
I beg to differ. Every single thing I’ve tried to sell in short fiction, if I get feedback, or comments, every single one wants it to start in media res – in other words, like a movie, start with exploding special effects, then go back, or on….
Does it depend on how well known you are as an author?
To some degree. But that’s true on selling in the first place.